The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has finally confirmed the reassignment of the commander of the Presidential Guards Unit, the Tiger Division.
SSPDF Spokesperson Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang announced the changes in an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Thursday evening.
“Lt Gen Santino Deng Wol, the Chief of Defense Force, received a directive from the Commander-in-Chief, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, to transfer Gen Lual Wek Guem, also known as Lual Maroldit, from his position as the commander of the Tiger Division to the General Headquarters in Bilpham. Abraham Gum Makuac has been appointed the new commander of the Tiger Division,” he said.
“The Chief of Defense Forces has confirmed to me officially. He said he was called and received an official letter from the Office of the President. Gen Lual has been redeployed to the 1st Infantry Division in Renk, and the commander for the 1st Division has been brought to Tiger, so they have been swapped,” Koang stated.
The changes are contained in letters dated October 7 and October 10, 2024, signed by President Kiir and Gen Deng respectively. Copies have been obtained by this publication.
Gen Guem was promoted to the rank of major general and appointed the Commander of the Presidential Guards Unit in May 2017. The elite unit, based in Juba, is tasked with protecting the President.
Maj Gen Koang emphasized that the changes were part of the routine operations of the Army and were not related to any alleged coup plot. He urged the public to refrain from relying on social media for information, following recent rumors about changes in the Tiger Division’s command.
The move comes shortly after President Kiir dismissed Gen Akol Koor Kuc, the long-serving Director General of the Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Service (NSS), replacing him with Akec Tong Aleu. Kuc’s removal has fueled speculation about a power struggle among South Sudan’s top security officials.
